Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass VCU Bulletins VCU University Archives 2003 Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/vcubulletins © Virginia Commonwealth University Downloaded from http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/vcubulletins/12 This Bulletin is brought to you for free and open access by the VCU University Archives at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in VCU Bulletins by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Undergraduate Bulletin Volume LXXV June 2003 2003 – 04 Academic and MCV Campuses Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s, doctoral and first professional degrees. Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Bulletin 2003-04 Table of Contents Letter from the President Virginia Commonwealth University General Information Division of University Outreach 827 W. Franklin St. • P.O. Box 842041 Virginia Commonwealth University . 1 Richmond, VA 23284-2041 Admission to the University . 9 (804) 827-0466 • Fax (804) 828-8172 Expenses and Financial Aid . 21 www.vcu.edu/bulletins • [email protected] Academic Regulations and General Degree Requirements . 29 Academic Programs The bulletin for the academic year a student enters or re-enters a degree VCU Life Sciences . .41 program identifies the curriculum College of Humanities and Sciences . 45 degree requirements for that student. School of Allied Health Professions . 151 Students in continuous enrollment School of the Arts . 165 may fulfill the curriculum degree School of Business . 213 requirements of the bulletin for the year they entered VCU or in the School of Dentistry . 235 alternative, choose to be subject to School of Education . 241 the curriculum degree requirements School of Engineering . 267 articulated in a subsequent bulletin. School of Graduate Studies . 291 In either case, students must fulfill all School of Medicine . 293 curriculum degree requirements listed in the bulletin they choose. School of Nursing . 295 The contents of this bulletin repre- School of Pharmacy . 305 sent the most current information School of Social Work . 307 available at the time of publication. However, during the period of time Special Programs and Services covered by this bulletin, it is reason- Office of Community Programs . 313 able to expect changes to be made Office of International Education . 317 with respect to this information with- Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services . 319 out prior notice. Thus, the provisions of this bulletin are not to be regarded Interdisciplinary Programs . 331 as an irrevocable contract between University Honors Program . 333 the university (or any of its divisions) University Resources and Services . 335 and the student. All rules and regulations set forth Appendices in this bulletin will apply until further Board of Visitors, University Administration and Academic Deans . 344 notice. The university reserves the Credit for Advanced Placement . 347 right to make changes including, but Credit for International Baccalaureate . .348 not limited to, changes in courses of study, fees, rules, regulations, pro- Determination of Student Classification for In-state Tuition Purposes . 349 grams, faculty and staff, and classifica- Program Accreditation . 353 tion of students, whenever university Rights of Students Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act . 354 authorities, in their sole discretion, Transfer Module . 355 deem it appropriate, expedient or wise Undergraduate Admission Requirements . 357 to do so. University Centers and Institutes . 363 VCU Academic Calendars . 366 VCU Campus Maps . 368 www.vcu.edu Index of Faculty . 371 Bulletin Index . 379 Virginia Commonwealth University Letter from the President It is my pleasure to welcome you to Virginia Commonwealth University. With more than $180 million in annual research funding, VCU is ranked by the Carnegie Foundation as one of the nation’s top research universities and is one of only three such universities in Virginia. More than 26,000 undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral students pursue 164 degree and certificate programs at the university’s two thriving campuses, located in the heart of Richmond. Forty of the university’s programs are unique in Virginia. Twenty graduate programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best of their kind in the nation, with two ranked number one in their discipline. As part of a long-range strategic plan, VCU has been enhancing the university’s stature as one of the nation’s leading research universities. Strategic projects have included establishing a new School of Engineering, which has been an important factor in attracting the microelectronics industry to the state, and VCU Life Sciences, a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate program involving the academic and medical faculty. VCU Life Sciences has spurred a major national public-education initiative through the public television series, “Secrets of the Sequence.” In collaboration with Harvard University, the University of California- San Francisco, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Medical Research Council/Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, VCU is advising the program’s producers on the latest life sciences discoveries and their ethical implications. The university also is developing the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in collaboration with business, civic and government leaders. When it is fully developed, the research park will cover 34 acres in down- town Richmond and employ an estimated 3,000 professional and technical personnel. The VCU Health System is one of the most comprehensive in the nation. Its physician-faculty, facilities and medical-care programs receive annual recognition from local, regional and national guides and reports on the best health care. VCU is an extraordinary institution, and we are proud that you are part of the excitement here. Best wishes with your program of study. Sincerely, Eugene P. Trani President Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University the business, professional, civic and health- The university community care communities of Virginia, serve four- President’s Office year terms. Members may be appointed for 910 W. Franklin St. • P.O. Box 842512 With more than $180 million in annual an additional four-year term at the gover- Richmond, VA 23284-2512 research funding, Virginia Commonwealth nor’s discretion. (804) 828-1200 • Fax (804) 828-7532 University is ranked by the Carnegie VCU is organized into the divisions of http://www.vcu.edu/president Foundation as a Doctoral/Research Academic Affairs (which includes the University-Extensive, one of the nation’s Provost’s Office and Graduate Studies), top research universities, and is one of only Dr. Eugene P. Trani Advancement, Community and President three such universities in Virginia. VCU’s Governmental Relations, Finance and teaching, research, public service and Administration, Health Sciences, Research patient care mission supports full-time and and University Outreach. The university Table of contents part-time students and faculty of diverse offers 164 baccalaureate, master’s, profes- backgrounds. The university also con- sional, doctoral and post-graduate certifi- The university community . .1 tributes to the local, state, national and cate degree programs through the College Alumni of the university . .2 Mission of the university . .2 international communities through its of Humanities and Sciences and the Virginia Commonwealth University scholarly activities, its diverse educational schools of Allied Health Professions, the programs, and its public service and patient Health System . .3 Arts, Business, Dentistry, Education, Academic organization . .3 care initiatives. Engineering, Mass Communications (which Located in Richmond, the capital of Undergraduate degree programs . .4 is part of Humanities and Sciences), Certificate programs . .5 Virginia, VCU is composed of two cam- Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Social puses. The 75-acre Academic Campus Minors . .5 Work. Forty of the university’s programs are Introduction to the university . .6 is situated in Richmond’s historic Fan unique in Virginia. In addition, 20 graduate Undergraduate General Education Program . .6 District. The 51-acre VCU Medical Center, and professional programs have been which includes the VCU Health System, is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as located two miles east in the financial, among the best of their kind in the nation. together spend approximately $322 million commercial and governmental district of VCU also offers the Bachelor of a year in the local economy. The VCU downtown Richmond. Of the university’s Interdisciplinary Studies through the Health System provides more than $100 151 buildings, 32 were built before 1900. College of Humanities and Sciences and million worth of indigent health-care serv- Fifty-four buildings are national historic the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies ices annually. Almost two-thirds of VCU’s landmarks or lie within a historic district. through the School of Graduate Studies. alumni live and work in Virginia. VCU was established in 1968 by an act Several additional programs